Saudi man who threatened lives of own family killed -- Interior Ministry

September 22, 2014, 8:24 am

The Interior Ministry said on Sunday that a Saudi young man who had taken members of his family hostages at gunpoint, and later stabbed one, was killed in a gun battle with the police.

The young man was an addict, and at the time of the incident was under the effect of drugs, the Ministry said in a statement. He started shooting at the police force that arrived at the scene from a machine gun and injured two, who were taken to hospital, it added.

According to the statement, the police had received a report that the young man, born in 1994, kept members of his own family at home at gunpoint and even stabbed his uncle. A police patrol hurried to the place where he randomly shot at them from a machine gun.

The force ordered the man to surrender and had long negotiations with him and members of the family, giving him enough time but he proved intransigent and continued shooting randomly, posing threats to the security men and passers-by.

The police sought assistance from special forces. They broke into the house at 07.50 am yesterday and exchanged fire with the young man who was killed after injuring two non-commissioned officers. They were taken to hospital and are in stable condition, the Ministry said.

Soon police found out the young man had had a number of guns, a hunting rifle, a machine gun and ammunition, it added. It was also found out that he was a drug addict.
Investigations have started to reveal more about the incident, the statement said.